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Judge First To Be Impeached, Convicted

1804

John Pickering, judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire, becomes the first federal official to be found guilty on impeachment charges. The House impeached him March 2, 1803. He is widely believed to be insane and reportedly appeared in court drunk at times. Other times, he failed to appear at all. Pickering, who served on the bench nine years, is removed after he is convicted by the Senate.